Leadership and leadership training is a high value topic in the world we live in. Managers in the business universe spend a significant amount of HR training on how to lead effective highly motivated workforces. The military places high value on leadership. And schools place a high value on training the leaders of the next generation. My first foray as a volunteer Sunday school teacher of sixth grade boys started on the topic of leadership bible verses. I was paired with a more seasoned teacher and he spent a significant amount of time lifting up the value of leadership.

What about Theology?

He would tell this group of immature boys that they needed to be leaders and we would read bible verses on leadership and about leaders. They needed to live moral lives because others would look to them. As Christians they needed to lead the next generation. I pondered this line of teaching because it was a surprise to me. What happened to teaching theology and apologetics? I wanted to answer questions about God and why He created. When I was 11 years old I remember questioning everything. Is God even real? How would he have created? Jesus born of a virgin? What is the point and how can I believe that? I wanted to dive into those topics with these kids but the class direction was leadership and I pondered on this.

Learn the Basics

Around that same time my oldest daughter was wrapping up kindergarten. She was younger and smaller than all the other kids because she had a late summer early fall birthday. I had pushed for her to get started early because my wife and I felt she was ready. At the end of the school year the teacher wanted to meet with us and discuss next steps. I agreed to a meeting with the teacher recommending to holding our daughter back one more year before moving on to the next grade.

At the parent meeting I asked pointedly if my daughter was lacking in reading, math, or verbal skills. The teacher confirmed all academic scores were sufficient for moving forward. So I asked for the reasons to hold back. The teacher’s response was that my daughter was younger than the others. She struggled to fix her belt (part of school uniform) after restroom breaks, and wait for it, she needed to mature more as a leader before moving on to the next grade. I was not pleased with the recommendation based on those reasons.

Who Should be a Leader?

Leadership is an interesting and important idea. We can and will all lead in something in some way. However not everyone will be or will want to be class president. Not everyone wants to be a Manager. Very few will be CEO, Principle, or Senator. Not everyone is capable of leading men into battle. So are you a failure if aspirations or ability are not in the formal realm of leadership? I had to ask these questions of myself when I was taking seminary classes. The school wanted to train these future pastors to be leaders. Was I not cut out for future ministry if I did not want to be a leader?

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4-5 ESV

God Has a Purpose

God is a creative and wonderful God. While all humans are equal in that we are all created in His image. We are not all equal in opportunity and ability. God has done this according to his own purpose. He has made us to serve him and each of us has our own path.

I do not teach leadership bible verses as a topic in my classes today. What I desire to teach is real life truth and practical answers to the things that make life hard. I pray that my students are equipped with the knowledge of who God is and how to distinguish Him from the lies of the world. Each student needs to find their gifts and those that want to lead will have an opportunity and I encourage it.

31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:31a ESV

Pour Truth into Your Heart

My kindergarten daughter and those 6^th grade boys need not worry about leadership. They needed truth poured into them. They need a foundation of core principles and knowledge that they can use in the future. Leadership is not something to be desired for the sake of power because leadership should be a calling for those that have vision and truth at their feet. Additionally leadership is to be used in service to Christ who is the head of all authority. I teach truth, give opportunities to dwell on that truth as it relates to the world we live in, and I pray that we would then leverage that knowledge in whatever role God has called.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 1 Corinthians 12:15 ESV

Leaders are Born from Truth and Vision

Today is the day to embrace who God made you to be. If you are a hand then grab hold of God’s world, if you are a foot then rush toward the fight according to God’s plan and, if you are eyes then see what God wants to show this sinful world. But whatever you do don’t try to be the head of something because the world tells you that is where virtue lives. There is only one head and one leader.

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10 ESV

Thanks for reading. I pray this was helpful to you in your small group Bible study or devotional time.